Land use and Sustainable Development

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With rapid population growth and increasing urban complexities, there is a need for innovative and practical solutions. In this context, smart living can play a fundamental role in improving urban security. This study aims to explain and analyze the impact of smart living on the development of urban security in the city of Semnan. METHODS: The research method is descriptive-analytical and statistical, conducted through a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative). Quantitative data were collected using a standardized questionnaire from a sample of 384 citizens, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 30 urban and security experts. For data analysis, SPSS and AMOS software were used for the quantitative section, and thematic analysis along with the SOAR technique were employed for the qualitative section. FINDINGS: Statistical analysis using Pearson’s correlation coefficient shows a positive relationship between smart living and urban security in Semnan, with a correlation value of r=0.30 and a significance level of 0.000, indicating that this relationship is statistically very significant and reliable. CONCLUSION: Ultimately, it can be concluded that increasing smart living indicators—including the use of modern technologies, advanced security systems, and smart urban services—leads to improved living conditions, enhanced social interactions, strengthened sense of solidarity and responsibility within the community, and ultimately, the enhancement of urban security.

Transportation is a cornerstone of the tourism industry, which is considered one of the most important and lucrative global resources at the dawn of the third millennium. The primary assumption of public transportation development based on sustainable tourism is increasing tourist satisfaction. Additionally, one of the most advanced urban development perspectives that can initiate improvements in current urban conditions and serve as an effective step toward sustainable development is TOD. Suitable, reliable, comfortable, fast, and affordable transportation facilities are prerequisites for tourism development, as tourists consider both cost and time in their decisions. The choice of transportation system or the availability of an appropriate system affects these two factors when accessing tourist destinations. The objective of this research is to apply a transit-oriented development approach to enhance tourism in Tonekabon. The study is applied and descriptive-analytical, utilizing documentary research, observation, and questionnaires for data collection. Additionally, the Fuzzy IHWP method is employed to identify potential tourism zones, with a focus on transit-oriented development. The results indicate that the northern, central, and coastal areas of the city, which cover 29% of its total area, have high potential for locating public transportation stations, such as taxi stands, vans, bus terminals, and bicycle lanes. Finally, recommendations are provided, including widening streets, establishing bicycle lanes, and recreational-hospitality activities in the coastal area, improving taxi services to all areas, widening the main bridge connecting the east and west of the city, and constructing public parking near terminals and the coastline.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite the importance of sports for maintaining student health, inadequate or unsuitable sports spaces, limited accessibility, lack of social support, and weaknesses in urban planning have led to decreased sports participation among students. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between urban conditions and the levels of health and physical activity among students at Payame Noor University of Sari. METHODS: This research employed a descriptive–survey approach. The statistical population comprised 3,400 undergraduate students at Payame Noor University of Sari. According to Krejcie and Morgan’s table, 351 individuals were selected as the sample size, but to enhance reliability, data were collected from 390 participants. Data were gathered using a questionnaire, and analyzed through Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and path analysis modeling. FINDINGS: Results from the multiple regression analysis indicated that out of six urban condition components, three—social support, access to urban sports facilities, and the quality and diversity of sports spaces—exhibited a direct and significant relationship with students’ sports participation and health. The standardized beta coefficients showed that social support (β=0.34), access to sports facilities (β=0.33), and quality of sports spaces (β=0.18) had the greatest impact. CONCLUSION: The present study confirmed that urban infrastructure and social support are key factors in enhancing students’ physical activity and health. Easy access to sports facilities and the presence of high-quality environments increase motivation for physical activity and improve both physical and mental well-being.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sustainable revenue generation for municipalities remains a major challenge in Iran, where long-term reliance on unstable sources such as density sales and land-use changes—has led to spatial imbalance and social-environmental inequality. To address this, there is a growing shift toward innovative and resilient financial strategies. Non-financial tools such as Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), BOT/BOO partnership contracts, and facilitation-based incentive mechanisms are emerging as promising alternatives to reduce dependence on cash revenues. This research seeks to identify key barriers to implementing these sustainable non-financial instruments in Iranian municipalities. METHODS: A descriptive–analytical method was applied, combining the fuzzy Delphi technique with qualitative content analysis to identify and classify the main barriers to adopting non-financial instruments. FINDINGS: The results show that these instruments face multiple obstacles in five dimensions: legal, institutional, cultural, economic, and participatory. CONCLUSION: The study highlights that effective implementation requires structural reforms in urban governance, revision of legal frameworks, institutional strengthening, public trust building, and the use of data-driven planning tools. Based on the findings, a set of policy and operational recommendations has been proposed to address the identified barriers. These results provide guidance for improving sustainable municipal finance in Iran and contribute to the broader academic discussion on innovative non-financial approaches to urban management.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the effects of land management practices and vegetation cover on soil erosion rates in the Mashhad Plain, Northeast Iran. METHODS: By employing the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial analysis, the research reveals significant variability in soil erosion risks based on agricultural practices. FINDINGS: Results indicated that conservation practices notably reduce soil loss rates across various crops. For instance, wheat fields experienced a 41.2% decrease in soil loss from 10.80 to 6.35 tons per hectare per year (t ha-1 yr-1), while sugar beet, potato, maize, and alfalfa saw reductions of 34.9%, 33.4%, 37.3%, and 35.1%, respectively. The study also identified high soil erodibility in 5.37% of the area, with K-factor values ranging from 0.390 to 0.485 t ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1, and noted improved soil stability under alfalfa cultivation due to its perennial nature. Furthermore, the integration of USLE's C and P factors within a GIS framework elucidates the substantial impact of management practices and vegetation changes on soil erosion. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored conservation strategies to mitigate soil erosion, optimize land management, and sustain long-term environmental health. CONCLUSION: The research advocates for a meticulous evaluation of agricultural strategies, aligning them with the unique geographical and vegetative attributes of the area, to enhance soil preservation and productivity. This comprehensive approach contributes to the prioritization of watershed interventions, ultimately fostering sustainable development in rural landscape management.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The driving forces of productivity-oriented design management in architecture and urban planning offices, as a novel approach to improving project performance, focus on identifying and analyzing the key factors influencing the design process. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine the driving forces affecting the status of productivity-based design management in selected architecture and urban planning offices in Tehran. METHODS: The study is applied in nature and uses a descriptive–analytical method. Theoretical data were collected through documentary research, and empirical data were obtained via a Delphi-based survey. Twenty experts were selected through purposive sampling, and 40 factors in six main dimensions were analyzed using structural cross-impact analysis in MICMAC software. FINDINGS: The cross-impact analysis indicated that the driving forces occupy a complex, intermediate state, mostly in the independent cluster. Among 31 identified drivers, the most influential include precise project planning, advanced design software use, effective stakeholder communication, quality control, human resource management, and project risk management. These factors have the greatest direct impact on productivity-oriented design management in the studied offices. CONCLUSION: The analysis identified key drivers such as precise project planning, advanced design software, stakeholder communication, quality control, and risk management as having the greatest direct impact.